driving for the 1st time ,need advice

[richtomas]

not booked up yet,but will be going in the next few months, been twice and never drove there yet.

this time ive decided to drive and need loads of advice please. it scares me to death-only ever drove in uk,only drove manual gears and would a sat nav be ok............ please please help and say its ok

 

[mickg7dyd]

Hi,
You've probably heard this a hundred times but "if I can do it anyone can" Well in my case it's true. I avoid driving in large towns and cities in the UK but don't hesitate driving anywhere whilst in the US. We went to Florida lots of times without hiring a car and although we had a great time there's no getting away from the fact that driving gives you so much more flexibility. Like you the first time I decided to drive I was very nervous but it was amazing how easy it all fell into place. My main advice would be to try and get clear directions from the airport to where your spending your first night as after along flight your going to be tired and you really don't want to get lost. I used a sat-nav on our last trip and it worked really well so you may want to consider this. Most US cars are automatic and are a pleasure to drive and as long as you forget you have a left foot there no problem. You might want to keep a few quarters (25 cents) to hand for any tolls you encounter and obviously a map is still a good idea even with sat-nav.
Hope this helps.

Mick

 

[alisonbestford]

The first time I drove in Florida I had only passed my test 6 months previously and had absolutely no confidence..........................!

That 3 week holiday was the making of me and, now, I'll drive anywhere.....

Believe me, it is so easy, compared to driving in the UK....

I can only drive an automatic so can't comment on the manual/automatic debate.................

Go for it

 

[wayneg]

As Mick said, anyone can do it.
I hate driving, did it once abroad in Tenerife on our honeymoon and said never again. Glad I did, I have no problems over there, my problem is getting used to driving when we get back home, far easier there.
Remember you can turn right at red lights unless it tells you any different.
Sat nav is great we use Tom Tom software.
Auto is easy, just takes a few minutes to get into it.
When you get your car there is usually people about that will help, grab one and ask them to show you everything you are not sure about, just give him a couple of dollars for helping.
Ask us anything in particular you want to know.

 

[islandmum]

sometimes you have to be careful with traffic lights ..... their lights are overhead and I've heard of people stopping directly under some lights only to find they're slap bang in the middle of the intersection!!!

sat nav is great, most streets are straight and on blobks so its easy to navigate - and no roundabouts to speak of!

 

[wayneg]

- and no roundabouts to speak of!

We found a roundabout at the Marriott village at Easter, its in the centre of the 3 hotels. Some Americans had no idea how to use it, some went wrong way round, some just stopped and did not know what to do. It was hilarious.

 

[Shane]

The first time I drove in Florida I had only passed my test 6 months previously and had absolutely no confidence..........................!

That 3 week holiday was the making of me and, now, I'll drive anywhere.....

Believe me, it is so easy, compared to driving in the UK....

I can only drive an automatic so can't comment on the manual/automatic debate.................

Go for it

Is that your UK driving license you had only just passed? If you dont mind me asking, how old were you?

 

[Goofyish]

One of the best road maps for Orlando is this one:

http://www.orlandomaps.co.uk/

It has good detailed maps of the route from Sandford airport, toll details and a detailed map of I-Drive showing all hotels, main shops, restaurants etc.

Road signs are not always that clear and tend to be close to junctions without much prior warning.
Also, when you come upto a junction the street name sign that hangs across the junction is not the road you are on it's the road you are crossing can be confusing sometimes.

 

[Soprano]

Agree with others, its REALLY EASY to drive around Orlando. You really don't need a SatNav either.

 

[PoppyAnna]

sometimes you have to be careful with traffic lights ..... their lights are overhead and I've heard of people stopping directly under some lights only to find they're slap bang in the middle of the intersection!!!
QUOTE]

DOH! Like here I would concentrate on the line on the road not what's twenty ft above your head!

Seriously, we booked our trip this time last year adamant that we weren't going to drive (3adults 2 under 5's), what were we thinking? Two weeks before leaving I said to DH it could make or break the trip (or us!) and we went for a 7 seater at the last moment. We never looked back.
Apart from the journey on arrival I did all the driving for the whole two weeks (I drive more here as I'm at home with the children). It was easy, you get lots of time to make decisions, the speed limits are really sensibile, the right turn on red (unless signed otherwise) is fab and really keeps traffic flowing. They can and do overtake on both sides so I stuck to the middle lane as to not p anybody off, tolls are easy just keep change to hand, tuck your left foot under your chair and you'll have no problems. Take notice of the "ramp" (turnoff) speed limit signs and adhere to them, go too fast and that can been one hell of a skid (as I found out)
Sat nav - I used tom tom on my PDA (MDA Vario II) and a little GPS reciever, it was great but it takes a while to find a satalite when you turn it on in a new country. I turned it on the minute we got off the plane and it kicked in the minute we got to the hotel - and I'm told that's quick. Just a little warning. Apart from that it worked well.
Honestly, we felt like you - no need

 

[wayneg]

[
Sat nav - I used tom tom on my PDA (MDA Vario II) and a little GPS reciever, it was great but it takes a while to find a satalite when you turn it on in a new country. I turned it on the minute we got off the plane and it kicked in the minute we got to the hotel - and I'm told that's quick. Just a little warning. Apart from that it worked well.

I have heard other people say this, Mine is a HP PDA with Tom Tom software and it kicks in within 2-3 minutes of getting into open space, I dont think anything works in the multistorey. By the time I get onto the South Access road its working.

 

[richtomas]

thanks for all your advice [feel better not 100% }i have a tom tom which has uk and europe roads ,does anyone know how to get usa roads on my sat nav?

 

[bobboxer]

my experience of driving in orlando has been a very positive one, far more relaxing than driving in uk, speed limits are lower , so there doesnt seem to be the mad rush we have in this country, one wee tip i received before i went first time was regarding junctions, "sharp right and wide left",not the other way around or you could have problems !!!, take your time coming from the airport and the rest of the holiday will be a breeze, enjoy

 

[jowan]

We went in jan and like yourself been previously but never drove. I was nervous but really enjoyed it, it was really easy to get about and the car was excellent. I would always hire a car now without a second thought, I only wish it was that easy here.

 

[ziggybaby]

thanks for all your advice [feel better not 100% }i have a tom tom which has uk and europe roads ,does anyone know how to get usa roads on my sat nav?

How new is your Tomtom, if it's a new one, it will have a slot for an s/d card.
You can buy s/d cards of e-bay with USA maps loaded on, or, i think you can download the map from the Tomtom website.
I'm having the same fears as you about 1st time driving, sounds easy enough, hopefully

Good luck

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